Henry Altemus Company

The following are questions submitted via email by our visitors.

If you have a question about Altemus books that you'd like answered please click on the Questions link at the bottom left of this page.

Young People's Library

Q:  Hello ~ my father gifted me the copy of Black Beauty his father received December 25, 1914: the date is inside the cover along with his name. I have looked all through the book to try and identify the date it was printed to no avail. I’ve also gone through your website and did not find the cover so I was happy to see to I had the opportunity to take a picture and send it to you.

I appreciate any info you may be able to relay to me on our little piece of history!

A:  Your book is pictured on the website. This book is part of the Young People's Library. I cannot determine which format (2 or 3) it is part of by looking only at the cover. The different formats can easily be distinguished by the particular spine pattern.

The way to get more information about your book is to go here: ../ypl/index.htm. Click on the appropriate Format based on the spine design of your book.

Format 2 was published between 1898 and 1902 whereas Format 3 was published between 1903-1923.

Young People's Library

Q:  Hi I have the 1895 ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND Book 1ST ALTEMUS ED. Lewis Carroll it has a blue cover on it and is in wonderful condition. I was just wondering what it would be worth.

A:  Your book is the first Altemus edition of the individual title Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. In the same year (1895) Altemus published two combination books which included Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. In 1895 there were two different editions of your book. The earlier one has 1895 at the base of the title page and the fronts ads list to Through the Looking Glass.

For more information see ../series/series202F1.htm.

Appreciate that all other Altemus Alice's Adventures in Wonderland are later editions.

Young People's Library

Q:  I picked up this book from a second hand store about ten years ago and am wondering if you can give me some information about it. It is a Grimm's Fairy Tales from 1898 part of the Young People's Library. The spine was damaged when I bought it but I'm interested in having it repaired. I'm hoping to pass this onto my son when he's old enough to appreciate and take care of it.

Any information you can give me would be great. I paid $2.00 for it which to me is a bargain for such works.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library. Based on the cover, it is a format 3 book published between 1902-1923. It originally came with a dust jacket. Except for a few titles the books of this series have little value and it probably is not worth getting the binding repaired. For more information see ../series/series202F3.htm.

Young People's Library

Q:  Would you be so kind as to confirm that this version of Lewis Carroll's "Through The Looking Glass" is part of the Young Peoples Library Series #202, Volume 31, printed 1923-1933, Format 4, #3 Variant and, if it is what a fair market value would be? Thank you for your assistance.

A:  Yes, this book is a Format 4 Young People's Library book. This format is different from the earlier Young People's Library formats in several ways. First it has the paste-on (appliqué) picture on the front cover. Next is the characteristic spine design. I am including typical spines for your information.

Originally these books came with dust jackets which for the most part matched the underlying book cover.

Dating these books more precisely between the 1923 and 1933 publication times can be difficult because of the random nature of ad placements in the back of the book.

For more on this series see ../series/series202F4.htm.

Young People's Library Format 3

Q:  Hi. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this book (The Little Lame Prince). My grandma bought it at a garage sale, I believe.

A:  This book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 3.

See ../series/series202F3.htm

You can date the book by looking at the ads in the back and using the information on the page above. This format was published between 1902 and 1923. These books originally came with a dust jacket.

Because it is a reprint in poor shape, it has little value.

Young People's Library- Format 1

Q:  I am so glad I found your website. I have been trying really hard to find the value of a book I have. It is a henry altemus book. altemus young peoples library. I actually found the book on your site and info just not the value. It is series #202, volume #8, not the first edition. The book is in very good condition. I would greatly appreciate any assistance you could be. I have attached three pictures for your consideration.

A:  This book is part of the First Format of the Young People's Library. The books of this format are much less commonly found then the later formats of this series. Swiss Family Robinson was published between 1896-1898 in this style. The cover has been seen in several different colors.

It appears that you have a very nice book. The site does not give any values because prices can change with time and are also quite dependent upon condition. In my experience this book would sell for less than $20. Of course you never know when someone just has to have a book but that price is what I have seen over quite a number of years.

Young People's Library

Q:  I have this copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales from 1898 but I have not seen one with this particular cover on-line. I would like to sell it but it's hard to tell what it's worth when I haven't seen another like it. Would you be able to tell me more about it and who I might call to find out its worth? The fabric is quite torn on the binding.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library Format 4.

It is pictured here: ../series/series202F4.htm

It was published between 1923 and 1933. The copyright is not the same as the publication date with your book.

Without the dust jacket it has only nominal value.

Young People's Library

Q:  I just want to know about how much this book (William the Conqueror) might be worth. I found it in my parents attic .... Looking at the website I believe it is the later 1900 edition ... Thanks in advance for trying to answer my question.

A:  Most of the books of the Young People's Library are quite common and and not widely collected. For this reason without a dust jacket this book has only nominal value. For more information see ../ypl/index.htm

Young People's Library

Q:  Hi. I don't know if you still check this website, but I was wondering if you can tell me about this book (A Child's Garden of Verses)? Thanks.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library Format 4. You can see it here: ../series/series202F4.htm

This format was published between 1923 and 1933. Originally it came with a dust jacket which matches the book cover. Except for a few special titles (not this one), without a dust jacket most of the books in the format have little value.

Young People's Library

Q:  My father passed away and left me some books of which I would like to know if are just copies or originals. The book in question is The Story of Exploration and Discovery of the Frozen Seas. I am attaching some photos of the book showing the cover and the inside page and frontispiece. The frontispiece is different than others I have seen. It says the book was copyright 1896 but I know it could be a later date as well. I am not sure of the format of this book either. I have been reading what I could find on the internet and nothing I have seen tells me if it is original or not so I thought perhaps you could tell me. The last five or six pages of the book list all the publications that are for sale. I also noted the spine says The Frozen Seas while the cover says Exploration and Discovery in the Frozen Seas and the inside page says The Story of Exploration and Discovery in the Frozen Seas. If you could help me by telling me if this book is a genuine original I would be very grateful.

A:  Actually your book is in the pictures. It is #14 Later here ../series/series202F3.htm.

It was published after 1902. You can figure out the exact year by following the dating instructions on this page. The date on the title page indicates the copyright and not the date that this particular book was published by Altemus.

This title was first published by Altemus in 1896. The earliest formats can be seen here: ../series/series202F1.htm.

It is therefore a late reprint and has little value.